Chapter 17
En Route to Xenia's Palace
1 Epombria, 20 Zenoheld
"Milord Caligo, Regent Xenia requests your presence in her conference room at noon two days from today."
That announcement from one of King Zenoheld's messengers—Caligo refused to refer to them as Xenia's—was the reason why the duke was currently in one of his armored hovercars, heading towards the princess's summer palace.
It had better not be another farce of a negotiation, Caligo had thought. For the past few months since he had helped install her as regent, Xenia had been nothing but a thorn in his side, first actively opposing him against the rebellious Bakugan Resistance, and then actually entering into talks about sharing power! What did Xenia think she was, queen regnant?
At least it would seem reasonable if the other parties were fellow nobles, those born to rule. But therein was the added insult: she had the gall to have at her negotiations not just him and his fellow peers in the Choron Alliance, but also those unwashed commoners calling themselves the Astos Coalition.
Caligo did have to acknowledge, though, that at the very least, Xenia not a complete sycophant. She got the so-called Coalition to acknowledge that the Crown was not going away. At this point, Rutilius and his cronies had decided that it would be more prudent to have some sort of hybrid government where the sovereign could overrule any decision that their proposed body of squabbling politicians could come up with. Still ridiculous, but at least it was progress.
But Xenia forgot something important: None of those changes could happen unless she became queen. And as long as Caligo had anything to say about it, Princess Xenia would not forget that Zenoheld, not she, was sovereign. She was only keeping his seat warm and upholding his peace.
And should Zenoheld not return…
Xenia's Palace
"Your Highness: Duke Caligo Profunda Prove of Duchy Amauros."
With the porter's announcement, Caligo entered the conference room. Over the months of "negotiations," the duke was utterly familiar with the usual layout: guards stationed at each corner, with two more on either side of the door he walked through; the long rectangular table in the middle of the chamber; and Xenia's seat at the head of the table, Vestal Royal Family coat of arms on the wall behind her.
However, the usual layout did not greet him today. A circular table had been placed in the room this time, Xenia's seat, of course, being in front of the coat of arms.
Seated alongside Xenia was a motley crew of Vestals. To Xenia's immediate left was a teenaged girl with orange hair—Mira Clay, the leader of the rebels he had been seeking to put to the king's justice. To Mira's left were her co-conspirators: Ace Grit and Baron Leltoy.
That last one irritated Caligo to no end. Even though the barony was abolished years before he was even born, it still irked him how many commoners would take the old title as a given name. That a boy named "Baron" should be a traitor to the Crown...well, if that wasn't a sign that Vestal badly needed help, he didn't know what was.
Margrave Demophilus sat to the princess's right, and to Demophilus' right was a man that the duke did not expect to see in the room at all. He was a bald old man in a white robe and red miter. Though the old man's back was to Caligo from his vantage point, he suspected that he knew whom he was looking at.
As Caligo entered the room, he undid the silver clasp that held up the black cape that he was wearing and gave the cape to a nearby servant to put away until his departure. Caligo then headed straight for the seat directly across from Xenia. Unfortunately, that put him to the immediate left of the irksome Baron Leltoy.
As he sat down, Caligo's suspicions were confirmed. The old man to Demophilus's right wore a white robe with gold threads throughout the hems and a red flame outlined in gold across the chest. A similar flame decorated the front of the miter. Only one man wore that garb: Geron Hierophanus, High Archon of the Temple of Vesta. But why is he here? Caligo thought. He hasn't even implied that he'd depart from the Temple's neutral stance in politics...
About a half-minute after Caligo sat down, the porter arrived again. "Your Highness: Speaker Thomas Rutilius of the Astos Coalition."
Caligo didn't even try to hide a sneer as the rabble-rouser entered the throne room. Any fool could tell who between them had true power just by looking; Caligo guessed that Rutilius was five or six inches shorter than himself.
Even Rutilius' dress showed that he was just a commoner baying at power. Unlike the duke's black uniform coat with purple accents, Rutilius only had a blue vest, an off-white dress shirt, a cyan tie, and blue dress pants. The upstart's jet-black hair was slicked back with a copious amount of hair gel, and he wore narrow, blue-rimmed glasses. If either of those last effects were attempts to make him look sophisticated, they failed: they only looked gauche.
Rutilius approached Xenia and said, "Greetings, Your Highness." Ever the sycophant, he bowed low and kissed her hand before going to the remaining seat at the table, which was between Hierophanus and Caligo.
Wonderful, Caligo thought. Rutilius to my left and the treacherous "Baron" to my right. Lady Vesta, how could this day be any more auspicious?
"Good," said Xenia. "Now that everybody's all here, we can begin."
"Let me make something clear right now and save us some time," the duke said. "As long as King Zenoheld is alive, my priority—which should have also been yours—is to see him restored to the throne. As long as he lives, the Choron Alliance will neither accept the fiction of you as queen nor any harebrained scheme to share power with a group of peasants."
"The Conclave is far from a 'harebrained scheme'!" Rutilius responded. "For a long time, many of your fellow dukes have allowed—and still allow—for councils of citizens to keep them more attuned with the feelings of their subjects. I am—"
"Starting to resemble a malfunctioning holodisc; I've heard this argument before!" Caligo interrupted. "And ridiculously naïve to boot if you think that it will work on a planetary scale! Perhaps a bunch of arguing old men may work as a government in whatever backwater duchy you come from—forgive me; I forget easily—but here in the real world, decision-making is best done by one mind, not by committee."
Turning his focus to Xenia, he continued, "So I reiterate, Xenia: unless you plan on making some real progress today—that is, focusing your efforts on finding the rightful occupant of that seat in which you're so comfortably ensconced—please spare all of us the trouble and allow us to take our leave."
"Your objections are duly noted, Caligo," Demophilus retorted, "but even though you may be her cousin, it's still 'Your Highness' to you.
"Wait, no: It's actually 'Your Majesty,' as of two days ago."
"'Your Majesty'?" Caligo repeated suspiciously. "So, Xenia, you've simply decided to just arrogate the crown for yourself? I'm not sure whether to applaud your boldness or call out your foolishness."
Demophilus was about to answer, but Xenia raised a hand in warning. "I have done no such thing, Caligo. The reason that I summoned everyone here is tied directly to the reason why I am Queen, with no need for legal fictions. I have received word from a reliable source that King Zenoheld and Prince Hydron are dead."
The duke could not believe his ears. "What?"
Simultaneously, Rutilius exclaimed, "He's dead?"
"Yes," Xenia replied. She indicated the Resistance. "These loyal Vestals brought the news to me. As the next in line after my late brother and nephew, the crown of Vestal therefore falls to me. Duke Caligo—"
"Begging your pardon," Caligo said, "but I'm willing to presume that I just misheard Your Highness. From whom did you receive word of Zenoheld's demise?"
Xenia's face remained impassive. "Mira Clay, Ace Grit, and Baron Leltoy. Otherwise known collectively as—"
"The 'Bakugan Battle Brawlers Resistance,' I know. I just wanted to make sure. … Are you mad, Xenia?" He slammed both hands onto the table for emphasis, then rose from his seat and gestured in the Resistance members' general direction. "These are the same children your brother has been searching for—"
"You mean that you have been searching for," Baron interjected.
"You speak only when spoken to, boy!" Caligo snapped.
Baron scowled. "Thank you for reminding me, Your Grace," he said sarcastically.
"Much better." At least Leltoy wouldn't interrupt now. Caligo turned his focus back to Xenia: "The king—in whose name and by whose authority you rule—wanted them punished, and now you tell me they've reported him dead? Even if they're right, they should be in the dungeons, not your conference room!"
"Only if they've actually committed a crime, Your Grace."
Just entering the conference chamber—apparently without any introduction—was yet another thorn in Zenoheld's side. Rutilius, however, was first to utter the very sentiment on Caligo's mind:
"Spectra Phantom? I heard that you had been arrested!"
"A protective measure, I assure you," said the ex-leader of the Vexos. "Thanks to the Resistance, the Vexos aren't really the most popular Vestals on the planet. Neither are former Vexos, as it turns out." Turning towards the duke, he continued, "I understand why you distrust them, Your Grace, but allow me to say that the Resistance is indeed innocent of all wrongdoing. They did not kill King Zenoheld."
"First a bunch of traitors, and now a confessed defector from the employ of the Crown! Such an honorable gathering graces our presence!" Caligo replied. Turning back to Xenia, he continued, "Whom else will Her Highness call in support of her claim to the throne? A would-be psychic from the nearest mental ward? Or perhaps some barbarian from the streets of Varemed?"
"You'd be well advised to watch your tone, Your Grace," Xenia said. On cue, the guards' stances shifted, ready to react at any further command from the would-be queen. "As well as rethink your logic. Who else would know the fate of King Zenoheld but the very ones who sought an end to his reign? Besides, regardless of their affiliation, none of them brought about my brother's untimely death."
Caligo sat down again. "You know, I'd actually like to see where this is leading after all."
"Spectra," Xenia said, "could you please inform His Grace as to what actually befell the late king and his son?"
"Definitely, Your Majesty," Spectra said. "In the late evening of Bethemera, 28 Ananeosis, King Zenoheld deployed the Alternative Weapon System—a massive battleship with enough power to obliterate an entire planet in one shot. Contrary to what Your Grace has been trying to tell the Vestal people, King Zenoheld was indeed planning on turning that weapon towards Vestal. Haos Vexos Volt Luster had tried to leave the Vexos, and Ventus Vexos Lync Volan had actually forwarded the Alternative's plans to the Resistance, who were at the time completely unaware of the King's plans. Consequently, they have both been banished.
"As things stand, Gus Grav and I are all that remain of the Vexos."
"Are you trying to tell me that the Vexos—your former subordinates—rebelled against King Zenoheld?" Caligo demanded.
"Some of them did, Your Grace," Spectra said.
"And what of my son, Margrave Nyktos—the Darkus Vexos, whom you call 'Shadow'? Surely he wasn't a part of this?"
"That is a different story, Your Grace. Earlier on the 28th, Shadow and Aquos Vexos Mylene Farrow tried to banish two members of the Resistance using a Death Bomb. I believe that Your Grace is familiar with the technology?"
"I am," Caligo replied.
Spectra continued, "Unfortunately, the Resistance got the upper hand, and Mylene and Shadow got sucked into the vortex instead. And currently, even Regent Xenia is powerless to determine where they are, as only the sovereign can access the Death Bomb specifications stored in the Royal Archives.
"I'm sorry, Your Grace."
"My son…" Caligo began trembling with rage. "So these … traitorous juveniles killed my cousin, his son, and two Vexos, one of them my son?!" Pointing at Xenia, he said, "Certainly you will not deign to harbor them now, Xenia!
"Guards! Arrest these murderers!"
"Hold your positions!" Xenia countered. The three guards who'd begun to move toward the Resistance traded curious glances and returned to their posts. "Caligo, despite your title, the palace guard answers to me, not you. Furthermore, I promise you that I didn't know what happened to your son before Spectra Phantom told me."
Caligo was aghast. "Nonetheless, these…children have blood on their hands! At least four people are dead because of them!"
"No one said that, Your Grace," Spectra interjected. "The Resistance stood against King Zenoheld, yes, but they didn't kill him or Prince Hydron."
"Then who did, Spectra?" Caligo spat.
"That's the sad part," Spectra said. "In the end, even Prince Hydron must have been disgusted with the entire thing. The Resistance crippled the Alternative Weapon System and set it to self-destruct. They then fled the ship, and King Zenoheld readied himself to do the same. However, Prince Hydron stopped Zenoheld and sacrificed himself to ensure his final fall. So in a way, King Zenoheld's murderer has already been brought to justice."
A startled silence quickly descended upon the room.
To Caligo, it was as if the entire world turned upside down. "Impossible," he managed to say in a voice barely above a whisper.
As Caligo continued, his words got louder. "Inconceivable. Ridiculous.
"Absolutely preposterous! King Zenoheld, killed by his own son?!"
"I know it sounds unbelievable, Your Grace, but it is the truth," Spectra said.
Xenia nodded solemnly. "There's the answer you asked for, cousin. King Zenoheld is—"
"I refuse to believe it!" Caligo bellowed, slamming the table and getting out of his seat again.
"What?" Spectra exclaimed.
"You heard me," the duke snapped, approaching Spectra. "I refuse to believe it!
"If King Zenoheld had possessed a superweapon such as you described, then how could a couple of teenagers and an upstart boy have even stopped him? Any sensible man would have shot them and been done with it!
"Furthermore, why in the holy name of Vesta would the king's only son bring about his father's death as well as his own? I'd understand a little better if you'd said that Hydron survived. After all, in that scenario, Hydron would be king now barring word getting out of what 'really' happened. But what would the prince have to gain in the bargain from killing himself?"
Caligo now stood inches away from the ex-Vexos. Stabbing a finger at Spectra's chest, he continued, "Here's what I think, Spectra: If Zenoheld is even dead at all, it was you who killed him—or one of the Resistance members, most likely. You then concocted this story in order to try and worm yourself into Xenia's good graces, where you'd then bide your time before you stabbed her in the back as well!
"As for me, I've heard quite enough," Caligo said, turning back towards the table. "Xenia, I must applaud your acting skills, and those of your witnesses. You lot thought up quite the story. I even understand why you brought in His Holiness—his presence makes ending the negotiations and assuming the throne a much quicker affair than it would have been otherwise. But I don't intend to simply roll over and let you take the crown. Remember, I have just as much advantage as you do while His Holiness is here."
Though most Vestals, including Caligo and his immediate family, no longer followed the old religion, Vestal tradition still required that the High Archon officiate the coronation of a new monarch. By extension, he was also to be informed of the death of the current monarch, and he had the right to preside over any succession challenges.
Thus Caligo returned to his chair, but did not sit down. "Your Holiness?"
"Yes, Duke Caligo?" replied Hierophanus.
"As next in line to the throne of Vestal after Princess Regent Xenia Alethina of the Houses Hestia and Epipuron and Margrave Demophilus Alexandros of House Epipuron, I hereby invoke my right under the law of nomos sarki."
A hush fell over the room.
Baron nudged Mira as discreetly as he could. "What's 'nomi-socky'?"
Caligo sighed, sounding (and feeling) exactly like a teacher dealing with a problematic student. "Nomos sarki, if you must know, is one of a few laws that were made to resolve challenges to succession." How could one so juvenile possibly have been able to stand up to Zenoheld? "Any of the five members in the line of succession after the current claimant can invoke the law—as well as the two closest who aren't direct descendants, in case all of the aforementioned five are. When the reported circumstances of the sovereign's death are suspect, the challenge forces the current claimant—in this case, Xenia—to provide solid proof that the sovereign—Zenoheld—is indeed dead, and that neither she nor anyone acting under her orders was responsible for it. Or Prince Hydron's death, for that matter."
"So if she can't do it…" said Baron, mostly to himself.
"If she loses the challenge, she and her immediate family are removed from the line of succession. As next in line, I then succeed her. If she loses by default, I succeed as regent and become king after a year. If she loses otherwise, I succeed as king."
"Wait!" Demophilus cut in. "Your Holiness, isn't the challenge supposed to be issued within the Temple itself?"
"You are mistaken, milord Demophilus," Hierophanus replied. "It suffices only that the challenger come to me personally to inform me of his intention to issue the challenge. Of course, the normal order of things would be that the claimant reports the sovereign's death to me, and then I would report it to those eligible to invoke nomos sarki. The potential challengers would then have until the day of the succession announcement to come to the Temple, or wherever else I may be, and raise any challenge. Since I and both parties involved are all present, we can proceed as is."
"So, barring any further questions," Caligo said pointedly, "let me repeat myself. Your Holiness, I wish to invoke my right under the law of nomos sarki."
"Acknowledged," said Hierophanus. He then stood from his seat. "Princess Xenia Alethina of the Houses Hestia and Epipuron, please rise."
Xenia stood.
Hierophanus began: "Princess Xenia, dost thou withdraw thy claim to the throne of Vestal?"
"I do not, Your Holiness."
"So it is thy contention that Zenoheld Kratophilus Hestia, King of the Vestals, is dead?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"And that Hydron Kenodoxia Hestia, Crown Prince, and thus ahead of thee in the line of succession, is also dead?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"And that neither death is by thy hand, nor by the hand of one acting on thine orders?"
"Correct, Your Holiness."
"And that thou, as next in line after King Zenoheld and Crown Prince Hydron, art by right to succeed as Queen of the Vestals?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Understand that falsehood in any of the aforementioned will not only disqualify thee, but also thine immediate issue, from ever taking the Crown. Standest thou to thine assertion?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Very well." The priest turned to Caligo. "Challenger, state thy name."
"Caligo Profunda of House Prove, Duke of Amauros."
"By what right dost thou issue thy challenge?"
"I am third in line to the throne of Vestal, after the claimant, Princess Xenia Alethina of the Houses Hestia and Epipuron, and her son, Margrave Demophilus Alexandros of House Epipuron."
"Duke Caligo, thou hast heard the grounds for Princess Regent Xenia's claim to the throne. Dost thou claim her false?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"On what grounds?"
"I suspect the veracity of the account given by her and by those that support her claim to the throne. The witnesses that she has proffered are all avowed enemies of the Crown."
"Knowest thou that if King Zenoheld or Prince Hydron is found to merely be missing, not dead, neither fact shall lead to thy succession as King of the Vestals?"
"I understand, Your Holiness."
"Further, knowest thou that the King or Prince hath one year to reveal himself if he is indeed missing, not dead, after which Princess Xenia will claim the title of Queen of the Vestals?"
"Yes, Your Holiness," Caligo said, trying his hardest not to grit his teeth.
"Understand that thou shalt succeed as King only if it is found that both King Zenoheld and Prince Hydron are dead, and that the death of either King Zenoheld or Prince Hydron was by the hand of Princess Xenia or by the hand of another acting under her direction. Given this, wilt thou withdraw thy challenge?"
"I will not, Your Holiness."
"I ask thee again, Princess Xenia: Wilt thou withdraw thy claim?"
"I will not, Your Holiness," Xenia replied.
"Then I hereby acknowledge that the law of nomos sarki hath been invoked. Princess Xenia, thou hast ten days to provide me with physical proof of the deaths of King Zenoheld and Prince Hydron. If a doctor or other learned professional is needed, so state, and I will pick one. Failure to comply will lead to forfeiture of thy place and that of thine immediate issue in the line of succession, as well as Duke Caligo succeeding thee as regent—and later as king should neither King Zenoheld nor Prince Hydron reveal himself within a year. Am I made clear?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Princess Xenia, Duke Caligo: ye are dismissed."
After Xenia and Caligo returned to their seats, Xenia said, "Your Holiness, you need not wait the entire week. I had asked Spectra if he was able to present proof of his story. He said that he could escort us towards the battle site in the Vestal Destroyer."
Caligo had expected a dismissal, not further talk. He barely schooled his features out from the shocked expression he had before sneering, "Really, now? According to him, King Zenoheld died in an explosion two days ago! What proof could you possibly get from that?"
"Right after the battle, I took the time to gather or tag enough proof to verify my claims, Your Grace," Spectra replied, "including some of the remains of the late king and prince. If you wish, I can bring Your Grace, Her Majesty, and His Holiness there as soon as you'd like."
"I might as well indulge you a little further, if only to see your little story go down in flames," Caligo said. "But I believe that a coroner and a forensic expert would be needed."
"Princess Xenia?" Hierophanus said.
"I agree, we will need those experts."
"I will be able to have someone by tomorrow," Hierophanus said.
"And the delay would not be an inconvenience to you, Spectra?" Xenia asked.
"I see no harm in one day's delay," Spectra replied.
"Then it's decided," Hierophanus said. "Princess Xenia, Duke Caligo, Spectra Phantom: report to the Temple spaceport two hours after sunrise."
"Your Holiness, if it pleases you, I would like to be there as well," Rutilius cut in.
"I had almost forgotten you were here, Rutilius," Caligo sneered.
"I see no reason to object," said Hierophanus. "You may attend."
"Thank you, Your Holiness."
"Well, Xenia, I must admit, this certainly was more interesting than I had expected," Caligo said.
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I agree with His Grace," Rutilius said. "That was indeed quite the surprise. I am eager to see what happens tomorrow.
"With your leave, Your Majesty?"
"You are dismissed, Speaker," Xenia replied.
"Come tomorrow, a new Vestal will emerge, one way or another. Let us hope that it will be a better Majesty. Your Holiness. Assorted guests," Rutilius said, bowing low. And with that, he left the room.
"If that is all, do I have Your Highness's leave?" Caligo said.
"You may go, Caligo," Xenia replied with a sigh.
With that, Caligo left the room.
For once, Rutilius is not wrong, Caligo thought. There will be a new, better Vestal come tomorrow. The only difference is that my new Vestal may not have any place for him.
Chuckling to himself, Caligo prepared to leave the palace.